"The gates to friendly contact have finally been opened."

February 17, 1972, the astonishing occurred: US President Richard Nixon left for China. The People's Republic of China and the US had not had any contact with each other in 23 years. This visit was monumental. The US was involved in the Vietnam war, which had Chinese backing, Nixon was known as a "red-baiter" and Nixon was the first US President to visit China.

There were three goals for this trip: solve the issue of Taiwan peacefully, settle the Vietnam war peacefully and to halt the spread of Soviet influence. In addition to these goals, which some people do not think were met, economic ties between the US and China were established and remain very strong today.

(Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress photos)